MILTON KEYNES / AGILITYPR.NEWS / June 12, 2026 / Ground engineering and void specialist Mainmark UK is raising awareness of subsidence, a growing threat facing the logistics and warehousing sector which can compromise the long-term stability and performance of critical infrastructure.   

Subsidence is the downward movement of the ground beneath a building, which can cause a structure's foundations to sink. Subsidence can occur when the original foundations of a building are unsuitable for the ground and soil types. In the UK, one of the primary causes of subsidence is clay soil shrinkage, which occurs when prolonged dry periods remove moisture from the soil, causing it to contract. 

Sinking foundations, un-level concrete floors, roadways and hardstands are all common symptoms of subsidence within a warehouse environment. This can result in sloping floors that are challenging for automation equipment, as well as high-level racking and the use of Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) equipment, much of which is reliant on perfectly even floors. VNA equipment requires extremely even, flat floors and even the smallest floor imperfection can be magnified, potentially causing the truck to sway and damage racking.

With a track record of 100 plus projects across the logistics sector, Mainmark understand the challenge of remedial works affecting warehouse operations and prides itself in minimising disruption. The firm’s non-invasive approach enables structures to be re-levelled quickly and accurately while minimising downtime for logistics operators.

Extreme weather conditions, heavy logistics traffic, and the movement of heavy vehicle loads are contributing factors that can destabilise warehouse infrastructure over time.

This risk is accelerating due to continued climate change, following extreme record-breaking dry summers alongside wet periods, reflecting the continued shift in the UK’s climate pattern. According to the Met Office, changes will continue, and by 2070 we will see winters are up to 30 per cent wetter, summers between 1 and 6°C warmer and 60 per cent drier (depending on the region).

David Hedley, Commercial & Infrastructure Lead at Mainmark Ground Engineering UK, said: “Subsidence in warehouses not only risks the safety of operators, damaging costly equipment, but it can also impact the movement of vehicles in and out of a facility, costing several thousands of pounds in repair and business interruption costs, and potentially disruption to critical supply chains.

“In a worst-case scenario, if left untreated for too long, a warehouse might be rendered unsafe, and operations will have to cease while large-scale construction work takes place to fix the problem.”

Mainmark plans to share their concerns with the industry at Multimodal,  the  flagship supply chain exhibition taking place at Birmingham’s NEC (30 June to 2 July), which coincides with UK Logistics Week and brings together thousands of logistics, transport and warehousing professionals. The event will showcase the latest innovations, trends and solutions shaping the future of logistics and supply chain management. 

With unique, innovative solutions for rectifying warehouse subsidence, Mainmark uses some of the most reliable, practical and least disruptive methods of re-levelling for buildings. The firm can re-level and re-support warehouses of any size, correcting moving and sunken driveways, pavements, floors and machinery bases, and strengthen weak ground.

Established in the UK in 2016, Mainmark Ground Engineering (UK) Ltd is headquartered in Milton Keynes, on the edge of the Golden Logistics Triangle. The company has more than 30 years of experience globally and has continued to expand its UK presence with operational hubs in Hampshire and Greater Manchester, serving customers across England, Scotland and Ireland.

Robert Jervis, Event Director at organiser Clarion Events Ltd, said, “Multimodal 2026 is set to be another flagship event, and we are delighted to welcome new exhibitors supporting the wider transport and logistics sector to the exhibition. This expansion into broader support services further reinforces the show’s position as the UK and Ireland’s leading supply chain event.”

Mainmark Ground Engineering (UK) Ltd has over three decades of experience and has established itself as a pioneering force in the industry, leading the way in developing and delivering cutting-edge solutions. Mainmark has earned international recognition as an award-winning ground engineering organisation.